That I might praise Him and have a testimony to others about His faithfulness.

(God’s strategy for dealing with pride and self-confidence)

I. (:1) THESIS -- DELIVERANCE LEADS TO PRAISE

Goal of Satan = Defeat Us and Frustrate Us so as to shut us up and Eliminate our Praise and Testimony.

He wants to make a mockery of us and of our God

"Your God cannot save you ..."

“I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast lifted me up,

And hast not let my enemies rejoice over me.”

II. (:2-3) GOD IS THE SOURCE OF OUR DELIVERANCE:

A. (:2a) OUR HELP

“O Lord my God,

I cried to Thee for help”

B. (:2b) OUR HEALING

“And Thou didst heal me”

C. (:3a) OUR RESCUE

“O Lord, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol”

D. (:3b) OUR PROTECTION

“Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit”

III. (:4) THE PROPER RESPONSE IS PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

(we are godly because He is Holy)

“Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones,

And give thanks to His holy name.”

IV. (:5) THE TEMPORARY SORROW OF CHASTENING CANNOT BE

COMPARED TO THE ABIDING JOY OF GOD’S FAVOR.

“For His anger is but for a moment,

His favor is for a lifetime;

Weeping may last for the night,

But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”

V. (:6-10) THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION -- FROM MOURNING TO DANCING IN THE MORNING

A. (:6) PROSPERITY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

“Now as for me, I said in my prosperity,

‘I will never be moved.’”

B. (:7) CHASTENING AND REPENTANCE

“O Lord, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong;

Thou didst hide Thy face, I was dismayed.”

C. (:8-10) SUPPLICATION AND REASONING

1. (:8) Supplication

“To Thee, O Lord, I called,

And to the Lord I made supplication.”

2. (:9) Reasoning

“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?

Will the dust praise Thee? Will it declare Thy faithfulness?’

3. (:10) Supplication

“Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;

O Lord, be Thou my helper.”

VI. (:11-12) THESIS: DELIVERANCE LEADS TO PRAISE

A. (:11) DELIVERANCE

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;

Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness”

B. (:12) PRAISE

“That my soul may sing priase to Thee, and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to Thee forever.”

* * * * * * * * * *

DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1) “His anger is for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime.” Do I tend to dwell more on.those momentary experiences of discipline or on the abundant grace and forgiveness of sins and favor which I constantly enjoy? Do I hold grudges and resentment against

others or am I able to let go of those emotions and truly love others?

2) How do I respond to prosperity? Do I forget the Lord and His goodness in providing for me? Do I imagine that success or riches came from my own doing? Do I need God to take me down a notch like He did to Nebuchadnezzar?

3) How adept am I at reasoning with God in my prayers? Can I see things from God’s perspective and present a case that makes sense in terms of the ultimate plan and glory of God?